Detroit’s enormous American flag vanishes day after its big reveal - Detroit Metro Times

Detroit's Oversized American Flag Vanishes After Just One Day

The massive American flag draped over the new Hudson's building in downtown Detroit was unveiled just a day ago, but it didn't last long. According to Bedrock officials, the enormous banner had to be removed due to strong winds, which were reported at around 10-20 mph in the city.

Despite its swift removal, don't worry - the flag won't be gone for good. The wind is expected to settle down by Thursday, allowing the massive American flag to return when it's safe. Whether or not it will still be up by Veterans Day on Tuesday remains unclear.

The new 141-by-85-foot flag is a tribute to Detroit's rich history of celebrating patriotism and is believed to be the largest hanging U.S. flag in the country. The tradition began in 1923 with the original J.L. Hudson Company Department Store, which once displayed a massive American flag that measured 230 feet long and 90 feet high.

Since then, the flag has been passed down through generations, eventually being donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 1976. This new version is smaller but still an impressive sight, measuring over 140 by 85 feet.

When it's reinstalled, the massive American flag will proudly stand above Woodward Avenue, serving as a symbol of Detroit's enduring spirit and commitment to patriotism.
 
I mean, what's up with that massive American flag in Detroit? It was like, just unveiled and already has to be taken down because of some strong winds? 10-20 mph is pretty tame, if you ask me... I guess it's one day at a time, right? Anyway, I'm kinda stoked they're gonna put it back up when the wind dies down. The history behind that flag is actually pretty cool, too - it's been passed around for ages and all! It's like, the whole city of Detroit is all about showing patriotism now...
 
ugh, great so the american flag that was just put up in detroit got taken down after one day because of some strong winds 🤦‍♂️😒 i mean, what's the point of even having something giant if it's just gonna get blown away? and now they're saying it might not even be back by veterans day which is like, a pretty big deal for detroit. i guess it's good that the city can still try again, but it feels like a whole lotta work just to hang up a flag 😒
 
ugh dont even get me started on this oversized flag lol i mean whats next? a 300ft tall flag in detroit lol they gotta be kidding right but seriously its kinda cool that detroit is trying to make a statement like that especially with their rich history of american pride the only thing thats bothering me is how fast it went down like, come on dude strong winds or whatever cant handle a massive flag i guess we'll just have to wait and see if its gonna be up by vets day 🙄👀
 
I feel bad for that massive American flag 🤕... one day in and already taken down? I guess strong winds aren't ideal for such a big banner 😂. But you know what's even more impressive is the history behind it - 141 years of Detroit celebrating patriotism, that's some serious dedication 🙌! Can imagine seeing something so big flying above Woodward Avenue, it'd be a real showstopper 🎉. I wonder if they'll make any changes to the design or keep it exactly the same 👀? Either way, can't wait for it to fly high again when the winds settle down 💨
 
I CANT BELIEVE THE FLAG WAS UP FOR JUST ONE DAY!!! 🤯💥 I mean, come on! A little strong wind shouldnt take it down. Im all for safety and stuff but still, its an American flag we're talkin about here! It's supposed to be a symbol of freedom and patriotism not somethin that gets blown away by the wind.

I do think it's cool that they're gonna put it back up though when the weather settles. Its still gonna be HUGE and I can already imagine how awesome it's gonna look flyin above Woodward Ave! 😎 It's like the city of Detroit is sayin "Hey, we may have a tough exterior but we've got heart!" 💪
 
OMG 🤯 I'm literally dyin' over this! Like, can u believe that thing was up for ONE DAY?! 😂 I know it had to be taken down 'cause of the wind, but still... 141 by 85 feet is HUGE!!! 💥 And it's not just any flag, it's like, a piece of history or somethin'! The fact that it comes from Detroit, which has such an amazing patriotic vibe goin' on, makes it even more special. I'm so down for when it gets reinstalled and can see it in person 📸... fingers crossed it stays up past Veterans Day tho 😅
 
just imagine seeing that huge flag in person lol 💥 idk how they deal with those strong winds in detroit though? 141x85 feet is insane! but yeah i guess it's better the flag got removed before someone got hurt or anything 🙏 anyway, can't wait to see it fly high again once the wind dies down 😊
 
Ugh, can you believe this? I mean, I get that strong winds are a thing in Detroit, but come on! The city is already trying to revive its downtown area, and now they're gonna spend all day yesterday putting up this massive flag only for it to come crashing down? 🤦‍♂️ It's just too much drama for one day. And now they're saying it'll be back up by Thursday, but what if the winds are still strong then? 😒 I guess we'll just have to wait and see how that plays out. The flag is pretty cool, though - 141 feet wide? That's insane! 🤯
 
Ugh, can't even enjoy the patriotic vibes 🤦‍♂️... I mean, who needs a giant flag in the first place? It's not like it's gonna bring anyone any real benefits. And now it's just gonna get torn down again because of some wind 😒. The city's so unpredictable - one day it's all about American pride, and the next day... nada 🤷‍♂️. I guess the Smithsonians got a nice new flag out of the deal though... but still, what's the point? It's just gonna get damaged again, right? 😩
 
🤔 You know what struck me about this whole thing? How fragile our symbols of pride can be... I mean, that giant flag just got taken down by some windy day 😂. It's like life, we're all just hanging out, being our awesome selves, and then BAM! A little gust comes along and knocks us off balance. But here's the thing - it doesn't matter if the flag is up or not. Our true strength comes from within ❤️. The real spirit of Detroit shines through in its people, not just some physical symbol. So let's take a deep breath, remember that everything can be taken away, and still, we can find our way to shine even brighter 💡!
 
this is so weird, i mean i get that strong winds gotta be taken into account but still... 141x85 ft is a lot of fabric 🤯 it's like, what's the plan for when its time to retire the old one? is it gonna get donated again or just tossed? and btw, who decides on these massive flags anyway? are there any guidelines or something?
 
omg what's up with this huge american flag in detroit?! it was up for like ONE DAY and already got taken down 🤦‍♂️😂 i mean, i get it, strong winds and all that but can't they just tape it down or something? 📦💪 anyway, glad to hear its comin back when the wind dies down tho! 141x85 ft is HUGE btw 👀
 
OMG 🤯 I cant believe that huge US flag is already gone after just one day 😱! I mean, 20mph winds are crazy strong in Detroit but still, I expect it to last longer 💔. I was literally looking forward to seeing it again on Thursday and I guess we'll have to wait a bit longer 🕰️. On the bright side tho, I'm loving how patriotic this whole thing is 💪! Those flag traditions started back in 1923 at J.L Hudson Company store? That's so cool 🎉! And now it's in Detroit, my fave city in the US 🌃. Can't wait to see that massive flag flying high above Woodward Avenue again 👏
 
ugh those winds are crazy lol 🌪️! i was actually kinda looking forward to seeing that giant flag up for weeks, not just 24 hours 🤦‍♂️. but on the bright side, it's safe to say that detroit knows how to go big or go home, right? 😂 i mean who needs a small flag when you can have an oversized one, am i right? 💪 anyway, fingers crossed those winds calm down by thursday and the flag gets to stay up for vet's day 🤞. it's like detroit is trying to outdo itself in terms of patriotism and coolness 🔥!
 
I'm so bummed that the oversized American flag flew off 🤕🇺🇸... I mean, not literally! The thing is, it's like, really symbolic of Detroit's identity and stuff. I get why they wanted to put it up in the first place - it's a nod to their rich history and all. But what if someone takes a pic with it and shares it online? 📸👍 It'd be a sick way to spread some patriotic vibes, you know? Anyway, fingers crossed that it gets reinstalled soon and doesn't get blown away again 💨. I mean, 10-20 mph winds can be pretty wild 🌬️.
 
I feel bad for that big flag 🤕 - all that work and only one day? But I guess it's better now that it won't be gone forever... still gonna look awesome when the winds calm down tho 💨!
 
omg i was literally here yesterday when they put up that huge american flag 🇺🇸💥 cant believe it came down after just 1 day tho 💔 what if the wind blows again 😬 hope they can get it back up by vets day or something 🤞 that thing is so iconic and i love how detroit is all about celebrating patriotism ❤️ especially since its a tribute to the rich history of the hudson's company store 📚🎉 anyway, gotta keep an eye on it and hope it stays up forever 💕
 
omg can you believe that huge american flag went up in detroit just yesterday and already got taken down 🤦‍♂️💨 like what kinda weather was it supposed to be for this thing anyway? 20mph winds is pretty strong but i guess they were worried it'd be even worse. still, gotta love the effort put into making that thing so big & beautiful! 🎉🇺🇸 hope it gets reinstalled by thursday and we can all see it flying high again 💕
 
lol what kinda city puts up a giant flag only to take it down cause of wind? like I get it, don't wanna risk some banner flying away... but come on, can't they just use some stronger strings or something? 🤦‍♂️ anyway, i guess it's still cool that the new flag is being set up and all. i mean, who doesn't love a good American flag, right? 😊 it's like, a symbol of freedom and stuff... but idk, maybe detroit just wants to make sure they don't end up with a flag stuck in the lamppost again 🤣
 
Back
Top